Chapter 134 New Year, New Beginnings

Chapter 134 New Year, New Beginnings
After everything that happened, everyone needed time to process the truth that had come to light.
Svetlana was placed in a psychiatric hospital under strict supervision for mentally ill criminals, and most likely she will never leave it. The doctors who diagnosed her are convinced she is beyond recovery. Her illness had progressed for far too long and too severely, leaving only a pitiful shell of what once was a human mind.
Marina recovered quickly from her concussion, and Viktor took her home. He was angry at us for the fact that his beloved got hurt, and explanations like our children were kidnapped too, and no one could have predicted this did nothing to calm him. A stubborn man, indeed.
But the most important thing is that my friend is fine now, and we continue to stay in touch—though mostly by phone.
The news of a new brother took Nazar by obvious surprise. And when he learned who it was, he could barely believe it at all. Still, there were no hysterics or scandals, and when he arrived at Oleg’s house today, the men greeted each other restrainedly but warmly.
As for the relationship between Yartsev Sr. and Makar… that’s more complicated. They turned out to be very similar in character—and in stubbornness.
On one side, there was Oleg, who, from the moment he learned the truth, practically gave the guy no peace. He tried to build contact, to be present—after all, so many years were lost.
Valentina said he was deeply tormented by the fact that one of his sons had grown up like an unwanted, unloved, abandoned weed. Our patriarch has always had heightened feelings when it comes to family and relatives—and this situation struck right in the heart. But determination and persistence are something he has in abundance, so he was bulldozing his care and affection into the life of the stubborn young man.
Makar, on the other hand, is no pushover either, and adamantly refuses any “handouts,” as he calls them. He lived practically on his own his whole life, so he needs nothing now.
But I think that’s the long-hurt child in him speaking. He had never been needed by anyone—and now it’s hard for him to believe that someone suddenly cares about him. Trusting others does not come easily to him.
Suspiciously quickly, the Demin distribution company began receiving regular, large orders, which greatly boosted its growth and profit. Makar fumed, certain it was his father’s doing—but Yartsev couldn’t care less about those tantrums.
If you don’t want Oleg’s help willingly, he will simply force you to accept it.
Who would know better than me—married to Kirill?
For almost a month now, the two have been locked in a stubborn standoff—who will outlast whom.
Although, if you think about it, even though Makar resists, their conflicts and arguments are still a form of communication. And communication brings people closer.
Today is New Year’s Eve, and, to be honest, Dasha and I played a little trick.
She managed to persuade her husband to come to this family celebration. When I asked how she did it, the girl blushed in a way that said everything.
Love is a very powerful weapon—and we girls know how to wield it. For good purposes, of course!
When the clock struck midnight, I caught myself thinking that everything was exactly the way it was meant to be. And I was happy.
Never before had I celebrated this holiday with such a big group. And it wasn’t just a group—it was family. A big, warm, chaotic family, no matter what.
Our boys tugged curiously at the Christmas tree decorations; Solya and Makar and Dasha’s boys stared in shock at the flickering garlands. The patriarch hugged his new wife playfully and whispered something that made Valentina blush and lightly elbow him.
My parents watched the grandchildren and all of us with shining eyes.
Of course, with so many little kids, the evening was loud and chaotic. They refused to sleep, sensing something exciting was happening. But tonight, we let them stay up and celebrate with everyone.
When the evening came to an end and we started getting ready to go home, something long-awaited finally happened.
“Thank you for inviting us to your celebration, father,” Demin said to Mr. Yartsev, shaking his hand.
And Oleg froze on the spot, stunned—because this was the first time Makar had addressed him that way.
“I… I’m always glad to have you here, son,” the usually stern man’s voice trembled slightly. It was obvious how deeply moved he was.
Following an impulse, he even pulled the astonished young man into a hug.
“Let’s not do everything at once,” Makar chuckled awkwardly, stepping back.
“Yes. All right,” Yartsev agreed, visibly overwhelmed.
It was hard not to smile at that scene—but only because of how warm it felt inside.
“Well, my beloved wife… you made my entire evening rather uncomfortable,” Kirill murmured, hugging me from behind once we had put the kids to bed and finally found ourselves alone in our bedroom.
“And why would that be?” I asked, pretending to be innocently surprised—but knowing very well what tormented him.
“You wore your beads…” the brunette began, slowly kissing my neck.
“Which kept giving me flashbacks of your irresistible look when you wear them. Was that… a special invitation for me?” he asked, teasingly, while already sliding my clothes off my body.
His voice so close to my skin sent shivers down my spine and made me want to purr.
“You know…” I turned to face him, gazing into his beloved green eyes with deliberate seduction.
“I did some… research,” I traced my finger slowly along his broad chest, “and I discovered… that these beads… can be used quite successfully for a man as well…”
“My little overachiever,” he growled with hungry delight, smiling wide before claiming my lips and pulling me fully into the fire we were about to ignite.